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Neil Diamond
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Diamond's debut LP, The Feel of Neil Diamond, released in August 1966, was a rush job, featuring "Cherry, Cherry" and "Solitary Man" along with his covers of hits like "La Bamba" and "Monday, Monday." It barely charted. Also featured... was "I Got the Feelin' (Oh No No)," an original composition that would be his next single in October. It reached number 16 in December, but the 45 was also significant for its Diamond-penned B-side, "The Boat That I Row." British singer Lulu quickly covered the song, and her version became a Top Ten U.K. hit in the spring of 1967. Diamond's fourth Bang single, "You Got to Me," was released in December 1966 and peaked at number 18 in March 1967.
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The happy saga of Neil Diamond is one American tale well worth repeating. At age 16, he received a guitar as a birthday present, and soon he focused on lessons and, later, songwriting. He later attended NYU as a pre-med student on a fencing scholarship, but songwriting remained his first love. He left college six months before graduating to accept a songwriter's position with a publishing company for $50 a week, and has never regretted the decision. Diamond eventually leased an office on Broadway for $35 a month where he could devote all his time to writing. After several lean years, he was approached by producers Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich.
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Neil Diamond mounted a major comeback with Tennessee Moon, his first collection of new material in nearly five years. Instead of capitalizing on the psuedo-hipster status he had acquired with the early '90s alternative rockers, particularly Urge Overkill, Diamond headed to Nashville to write and record Tennessee Moon. Appropriately, the album is rooted in contemporary country, spiked with hints of the pop craftsmanship that made him popular in the '60s. Not all of the songs were written by Diamond or his collaborators, which included Raul Malo of the Mavericks; the combination of originals and professionally-written made-to-order songs works well, leaving the overall quality of the material rather high. Tennessee Moon suffers from an overabundance of songs, as well as a slightly sterile production, but it remains one of Neil Diamond's most successful records of the '80s and '90s. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
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Neil Diamond cut his first record at the age of 14, using a pizza wheel. He then stuck it in James Taylor's birthday cake. The result was later photographed and used as the album cover for the Rolling Stones' "Let it Bleed". Aided by the mafia and the Original Jesus, Diamond climbed to the top of the charts, carrying Fey Wray. Unfortunatly, he was shot down by biplanes and was out of commission for several days. The turning point in his career came when he discovered that one could rhyme the words "night" and "moonlight" an unlimited number of times, to superb economic effect. It was during this time that Bob Dylan made the mistake of inducting Neil into the Rock and Roll Hall of Shame.
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Though his record sales declined somewhat after the 1980s, Diamond continues to tour successfully, and maintains a very loyal following. Diamond's songs have been recorded by a vast array of performers from many different musical genres.
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Synopsis: Pop singer Neil Diamond stars in this ill-begotten second remake of Al Jolson's seminal 1927 musical The Jazz Singer. The moth-eaten story concerns a cantor's son who desires success as a pop singer, despite the wishes of his imperious father. The film takes place in the present day with YusselRead More
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Neil Diamond